Shield Your Skin: The Ultimate Guide to Sunscreen

With summer just around the corner, it’s time to take your summer dresses out of the closet and accept all the party invites you can. But before you head out under the bright summer sun, make sure that you show your skin the care it deserves. 

It’s because unprotected sun exposure can do a lot of harm to your skin. Besides speeding up the aging process (photoaging), it can also cause dark spots and redness. But beyond the aesthetic factors, it increases your risk of developing diseases like skin cancer. 

To help you shield yourself against the harsh rays of the sun, here’s a quick guide on using sunscreen. 

Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen

If you are familiar with the struggle of finding high-quality CBD topicals, you will understand that the path to your ideal sunscreen is pretty much the same. But instead of shooting in the dark with unknown providers, you do have a set guideline and reliable manufacturers to buy your sunscreen from. For starters, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects you from both ultraviolet-B (UVB) and ultraviolet-A (UVA) rays, which can damage your skin and increase its risk for skin cancer, respectively. 

Go for at least SPF 30

Every sunscreen comes with a defined sun protection factor (SPF), which helps you determine how much it can shield you from the sun’s harmful rays. According to dermatologists, you should choose at least SPF 30, which blocks 97% of UV rays. You can easily find this standard in mineral SPF products. But upgrading doesn’t mean you get double the potency. While SPF 50 increases protection to 98%, SPF 70 does that to the extent of 98.5%. 

Apply sunscreen ahead of time

While using your moisturizer right before you head out the door doesn’t affect its potency, sunscreen is a different matter altogether. To properly settle on your skin and absorb harmful UV rays, sunscreen needs at least 20 minutes after application. That’s why you should apply it well before you are about to step under the sun. If you have trouble remembering this self-care tip, try using a reminder app to get help with this routine. 

Use plenty of sunscreen

From the benefits of overnight lip masks to the perks of body scrubs, the advantages of skincare products mostly come from using a liberal amount of them. This also holds true for sunscreen, which works well when you use it in large quantities. Most dermatologists agree that applying an ounce of sunscreen does the trick for the entire body. But if you are going to the beach, where your skin will be exposed to water, you might want to apply more. 

Reapply sunscreen throughout the day

If you thought that applying a significant amount of sunscreen was the only thing that you needed to do, you might want to think again. It’s because sunscreen typically only remains effective for two hours after its application. After this time, you have to reapply it again to protect your skin. Similar to exploring the mystery of human hair wigs, looking into the science of sunscreen can help you understand how it works. 

Opt for products that suit you well

If you ever ordered something like custom wooden sunglasses, you will be familiar with the idea of not settling down on things until they are exactly the way you want. When it comes to sunscreen, you can follow the same philosophy. By browsing through different products like lotions and powders, you can find an application method that suits your requirements. You can also look for variations like waterproof sunscreen, which is a great help during pool parties and beach trips. 

Shield yourself in multiple ways

Besides going for the best sunscreen for your needs, you should also look for other ways to shield yourself from UV rays. This includes wearing sun-protective clothing and accessories like a straw hat. If you live in an area that has mostly sunny weather, looking through these options can go a long way toward protecting your skin and health. But even if your sunny summer lasts for a short period, adopting these tips together can keep your skin healthy and happy. 

By going through these sunscreen tips, you can get the most out of this essential skincare product. If you want professional help with sun protection, you can also reach out to a dermatologist for a personalized consultation.

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